Lesson Overview

WordPress powers more websites than any other website platform in the world. Most hosting companies provide a simple one-click installer, making it possible to have a professional website running in only a few minutes.

This lesson explains every step so you understand exactly what is happening during the installation process.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what WordPress is.
• Prepare your hosting account.
• Install WordPress correctly.
• Secure your website during installation.
• Log into the WordPress Dashboard.

Before You Begin

You should already have:

• ✔ Registered domain name
• ✔ Website hosting account
• ✔ SSL Certificate enabled
• ✔ Hosting login details
• ✔ Domain pointing to your hosting

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1 – Log into Your Hosting Account

Open your hosting provider’s control panel using the username and password supplied when your hosting account was created.

Step 2 – Find the WordPress Installer

Most hosting companies provide a One Click Installer, Softaculous, Installatron, or a similar WordPress installation tool.

Step 3 – Select Your Domain

Choose the domain where WordPress will be installed. Be careful not to install it into a subfolder unless you specifically intend to.

Step 4 – Enter Website Details

• Website Name
• Website Description
• Administrator Username
• Strong Password
• Administrator Email Address

Step 5 – Install WordPress

Click Install. Within a few minutes your hosting provider will finish setting up your website.

Step 6 – Open Your Website

Visit your new domain to confirm your website is working correctly.

Step 7 – Log into WordPress

Most websites use: yourdomain.co.nz/wp-admin to access the WordPress Dashboard.

Your First Dashboard

After logging in you will normally see:

• Dashboard
• Posts
• Pages
• Media Library
• Appearance
• Plugins
• Users
• Settings

Don’t worry if everything looks unfamiliar. You’ll learn every section throughout this course.

Essential Tasks After Installation

• Change your site title.
• Check your timezone.
• Delete sample posts.
• Delete sample pages.
• Remove unwanted plugins.
• Install a professional theme.
• Create your first backup.
• Enable automatic updates where appropriate.

Common Installation Problems

• Incorrect domain selected.
• Weak administrator password.
• SSL certificate not enabled.
• Website showing “Coming Soon”.
• Incorrect DNS settings.
• Installation placed inside a subfolder.
• Unable to access wp-admin.

Installation Checklist

• ✔ Domain connected
• ✔ Hosting active
• ✔ SSL enabled
• ✔ WordPress installed
• ✔ Website opens correctly
• ✔ wp-admin login working
• ✔ Administrator account secured
• ✔ Backup completed
• ✔ Default content removed
• ✔ Ready to build website

Practical Project

Install WordPress onto your hosting account and log into your dashboard. Record every login detail safely and take screenshots of each stage so you can repeat the installation confidently in the future.

Chapter Summary

Installing WordPress is the foundation of your business website. Once installed correctly, you are ready to customise your site, choose a professional theme, create pages, and begin building your online presence.